Regional Queensland is enjoying a jobs boom under the Palaszczuk Government.
Hot on the heels of last week's jobs data which revealed that labour force participation in Queensland has hit a seven-year high, figures released today confirm that the Palaszczuk Government is creating jobs in every corner of the state.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that 75,900 jobs have been created outside Greater Brisbane since her Government came to office.
"Over the past year alone, 60 per cent of the jobs created in Queensland have been outside Greater Brisbane," Ms Palaszczuk said.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal that the state's lowest regional unemployment rate was in Cairns, where the creation of 20,900 jobs since January 2015 has driven unemployment down to just 4.8 per cent.
"The regional jobs boom in Queensland means that the Cairns labour market is now as tight as the labour market in the state of Victoria," Ms Trad said.
"Over the past year, Cairns, Townsville, Darling Downs, Central Queensland, the Outback and Wide Bay regions have all enjoyed an increase in jobs or a decrease in unemployment – or both.
"The Palaszczuk Government is backing regional Queensland. The same cannot be said of the LNP, which oversaw the loss of 11,400 regional jobs while in office."
Minister for Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman welcomed the continued evidence of strong jobs growth under the Palaszczuk Government.
"We are committed to creating jobs right across our state, especially in our regions," Ms Fentiman said.
"Just today we announced Skills Boost which is slashing the cost of TAFE in the industries where we know there will be jobs."
"This will ensure we have the skilled workforce we need and continue our 36th month of consecutive job growth."
More than 226,800 jobs have been created in Queensland since January 2015.
